Religion
Explore the Frontiers of Faith and Spirituality!
Religion is one of the most powerful and transformative forces in humanity, shaping cultures, inspiring movements, and offering answers to the great mysteries of existence. Whether you want to understand sacred traditions, reflect on the meaning of life, or simply learn more about the beliefs that move the world, books about religion are your gateway to this spiritual journey.
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Why delve into the study of religions?
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Learn about traditions: Discover the rituals, sacred texts, and teachings of the world’s great religions.
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Reflect on spirituality: Explore deep questions about faith, purpose, and transcendence.
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Understand diversity: Learn about the similarities and differences between the beliefs that unite billions of people.
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Analyze historical and social impact: Understand how religion has influenced (and continues to influence) politics, art, and culture.
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Our selection of books includes:
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Sacred texts: The Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, and other fundamental writings of major religions.
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Comparative studies: Books that explore the connections and contrasts between different faiths.
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History of religions: From ancient origins to contemporary movements, understand how religions have evolved.
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Philosophical and theological reflections: Explore debates on faith, science, ethics, and spirituality.
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Personal accounts: Discover stories of transformation and inspiration from people who have found meaning in religion.
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Who are these books for?
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Students and researchers: Rich and reliable sources for academic study and deep reflection.
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Curious and seekers: Learn in an accessible way about the beliefs that move the world.
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Practitioners: Deepen your faith and understanding of your own religion.
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History and culture lovers: Discover how spirituality has shaped civilizations and societies.
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Transform your view of faith and spirituality!
Each book is an opportunity to explore new perspectives, question old certainties and find inspiration for your own spiritual journey. Let yourself be enveloped by ancient wisdom and reflections that touch the soul.
Religion is a bridge between the human and the divine. Start your journey today! Choose your next book and embark on this adventure into the sacred.
Because understanding faith is understanding the heart of humanity.
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Below are some of the great classic books on religion. Those interested can purchase them on Amazon. Simply click on the “Buy on Amazon” button below the book cover and you will be directed to the purchase page.
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I get paid for qualifying purchases.
Judaism
A HISTORY OF JUDAISM
English | Martin Goodman (author)
Judaism is by some distance the oldest of the three Abrahamic religions. Despite the extraordinarily diverse forms it has taken, the Jewish people have believed themselves bound to God by the same covenant for more than three thousand years. This book explains how Judaism came to be and how it has developed from one age to the next, as well as the ways in which its varieties have related to each other.
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A History of Judaism ranges from Judaism's inception amidst polytheistic societies in the second and fi rst millennia, through the Jerusalem Temple cult in the centuries preceding its destruction, to the rabbis, mystics and messiahs of medieval and early modern times and, finally, the many expressions of the modern and contemporary Jewish worlds. Throughout, Martin Goodman shows how Judaism has been made and remade over the millennia by individuals as well as communities, and shaped by the cultures and philosophies in which Jews have been immersed.
Pages
580
Language
English
Publisher
Penguin
Publication Date
October 26, 2017
THE STORY OF THE JEWS
English | Simon Schama (author)
It is a story like no other: an epic of endurance against destruction, of creativity in oppression, joy amidst grief, the affirmation of life against the steepest of odds.
It spans the millennia and the continents – from India to Andalusia and from the bazaars of Cairo to the streets of Oxford. It takes you to unimagined places: to a Jewish kingdom in the mountains of southern Arabia; a Syrian synagogue glowing with radiant wall paintings; the palm groves of the Jewish dead in the Roman catacombs. And its voices ring loud and clear, from the severities and ecstasies of the Bible writers to the love poems of wine bibbers in a garden in Muslim Spain.
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Within these pages, the Talmud burns in the streets of Paris, massed gibbets hang over the streets of medieval London, a Majorcan illuminator redraws the world; candles are lit, chants are sung, mules are packed, ships loaded with spice and gems founder at sea.
Pages
707
Language
English
Publisher
Vintage Digital
Publication Date
September 12, 2013
THE STORY OF THE JEWS: VOLUME TWO
English | Simon Schama (author)
In the second of two volumes of this magnificently illustrated cultural history--the tie-in to the PBS and BBC series The Story of the Jews--Simon Schama details the story of the Jewish people, spanning from their expulsion from Spain in the Inquisition across six hundred years to the present day.
It is a story like no other: an epic of endurance against destruction, of creativity in the face of oppression, joy amidst grief, the affirmation of life against the steepest of odds.
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It spans the centuries and the continents - from the Iberian Peninsula and the collapse of "the golden age" to the shtetls of Russia to the dusty streets of infant Hollywood. Its voices ring loud and clear, from the philosophical musings of Spinoza to the poetry written on slips of paper in concentraion camps. Within these pages, the Enlightenment unfolds, a great diaspora transforms a country, a Viennese psychaiatrist forever changes the conception of the human mind.
Pages
800
Language
English
Publisher
Ecco Press
Publication Date
July 28, 2020
THE TORAH: THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
English | Jewish Publication Society Inc (publisher)
Torah, in Judaism, in the broadest sense, the substance of divine revelation to Israel, the Jewish people: God’s revealed teaching or guidance for humankind. The meaning of “Torah” is often restricted to signify the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), also called the Law (or the Pentateuch, in Christianity). These are the books traditionally ascribed to Moses, the recipient of the original revelation from God on Mount Sinai. Jewish, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant canons all agree on their order: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
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The written Torah, in the restricted sense of the first five books of the Bible, is preserved in all Jewish synagogues on handwritten parchment scrolls that reside inside the ark of the Law. They are removed and returned to their place with special reverence. Readings from the Torah form an important part of Jewish liturgical services.
Pages
405
Language
English
Jewish Publication SocietyÂ
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
THE TALMUD
English | H. Polano (translator)
The Talmud is one of the most important holy books of the Hebrew religion and of the world. No English translation of the book existed until the author presented this work. To this day, very little of the actual text seems available in English - although we find many interpretive commentaries on what it is supposed to mean.
The Talmud has a reputation for being long and difficult to digest, but Polano has taken what he believes to be the best material and put it into extremely readable form. As far as holy books of the world are concerned, it is on par with The Koran, The Bhagavad-Gita and, of course, The Bible, in importance. This clearly written edition will allow many to experience The Talmud who may have otherwise not had the chance.
Pages
384
Language
English
Publisher
Book Tree
Publication Date
April 1, 2003
HEBREW-ENGLISH TANAKH
English | Jewish Publication Society Inc (publisher)
The JPS Hebrew-English TANAKH features the oldest-known complete Hebrew version of the Holy Scriptures, side by side with JPS's renowned English translation. Its well-designed format allows for ease of reading and features clear type, an engaging and efficient two-column format that enables readers to move quickly from one language to another, and an organization that contemporary readers will find familiar.
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The Hebrew text of this TANAKH is based on the famed Leningrad Codex, the Masoretic text traceable to Aaron ben Moses ben Asher, ca. 930 CE. Ben-Asher researched all available texts to compile an authoritative Bible manuscript. In 1010 CE his work was revised by Samuel ben Jacob, a scribe in Egypt. Lost for centuries, the manuscript was eventually discovered in the mid-nineteenth century and became known as the Leningrad Codex. This edition adapts the latest BHS edition of the Leningrad text by correcting errors and providing modern paragraphing.
Pages
2040
Language
English
Jewish Publication Society Inc
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
KABBALAH FOR BEGINNERS
English | Brian Yosef Schachter-Books (author)
Gain a better understanding of the Kabbalah path to spiritual transformation and a deeper connection with the Jewish faith.
Coming from the Hebrew root that means "to receive," Kabbalah is known as the "inner" or "esoteric" dimension of Judaism. Kabbalah for Beginners is your introduction to a great spiritual tradition that will help you deepen your experience of the Divine through Kabbalistic portals into the Eternal Present.
Divided into four categories: theosophical, ecstatic, Hasidic, and contemporary, this book explores everything including ancient concepts, core teachings, practices and traditions, and even misconceptions of Kabbalah. Written in a contemporary tone and point of view, this beginner's guide brings this ancient discipline into the here and now.
Pages
164
Language
English
Publisher
Callisto
Publication Date
July 28, 2020
KABBALAH: KEY TO YOUR INNER POWER
English | Elizabeth Clare Prophet (author)
"A masterpiece. The rich tradition of the Kabbalah comes to life in a language that is accessible even to those unfamiliar with this ancient and classic tradition."- Caroline Myss, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of Anatomy of the Spirit.
Mystics are adventurers of the spirit who dare to push beyond the boundaries of orthodox tradition to pursue a common goal--the direct experience of God. Kabbalah: Key to Your Inner Power explores the once-secret Jewish mystical tradition known as Kabbalah.​ With intriguing new perspectives, it shows how we can use Kabbalah's extraordinary revelations about the creation of the universe, our relationship to God and our purpose in life to unlock our own spiritual power. It brings to life the path of the Jewish mystics--their joys and ecstasies, their sacred visions, and their practical techniques for experiencing the sacred in everyday life. Includes 36 illustrations, 19 charts and diagrams, pronunciation guide.
Pages
302
Language
English
Summit University Press
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
SEFER YETZIRAH: THE BOOK OF CREATION
English | Aryeh Kaplan (author)
The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts. In this landmark work of mystical studies, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan brings the text's theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light.
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The book explores the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the sefirot, souls and angels. Rabbi Kaplan explains that when properly understood the Sefer Yetzirah becomes an instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid in the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers. Through the use of various signs, incantations, and divine names, initiates could also influence or alter natural events.​
Pages
448
Language
English
Publisher
Weiser Books
Publication Date
May 1, 1997
Christianity
THE STORY OF CHRISTIANITY
English | David Bentley Hart (author)
The story of Christianity is an immeasurably fascinating one. A faith that began in Roman occupied Palestine, as a small and fugitive faction within Judaism, grew, thrived and finally "conquered" the empire that had sought to exterminate it. Then, over many centuries and in many lands, it became the vital source from which new civilizations sprang. At times, its geographical range expanded mightily, at others contracted perilously. At times, the church proved heroically true to its deepest moral principles; at others, inexcusably traitorous to them.
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But, by the beginning of the 21st century, this faith that began in such fragility, and that became so powerful--even though its temporal power has now receded in its historic homelands--is the most widespread and diverse of all religions. Christianity is rapidly taking root in cultures very different from those in which it was born and in which it once flourished, and is assuming configurations that could not have been anticipated a century ago.
Pages
256
Language
English
Publisher
Quercus
Publication Date
June 6, 2013
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS THE MESSIAH
English | Alfred Edersheim (author)
One of the best-known references on the life of Christ now available in one unabridged volume!
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Alfred Edersheim’s The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah is a storehouse of information on the background of the New Testament. This classic work successfully portrays the streets, the marketplaces, the religious conflicts, the people, and the places of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
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This updated edition features text reset in modern print, along with several new maps and illustrations. In addition, Roman numerals have been changed to Arabic numbers, Greek and Hebrew words transliterated, and the indexes corrected and updated.
Pages
1136
Language
English
Publisher
Hendrickson Academic
Publication Date
June 1, 1992
KING JAMES BIBLE
English | King James (author)
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King James Bible by Heavenly Publishers Bonus Content Included;
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1189 Original Touch & Click Chapter Links for Quick Searches;
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KJV Study Bible includes Easy to Read Words and Verses with All Word Search;
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This Study Bible Features People who Saw Messiah after His Resurrection;
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We Believe You’ll Love Our Best Bible;
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A percentage of the profit from sales of this book goes to help those less fortunate.
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The King James Version is considered to be one of the most popular Bible translations in the history of the bible. And in the back of this special edition bible you will get an organized scripture list of the many people who were eyewitnesses of the Risen Messiah.
There is also a link on the first page of this bible that will link to our website page explaining the Real Names of God and Jesus and their approximate original name pronunciations.
Pages
443
Language
English
Publisher
Heavenly Publishers
Publication Date
May 4, 2020
THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE
English | Zondervan (author)
An easy-to-learn, easy-to-use tool for topical Bible study
With over 100,000 references listed in the Bible’s margins, covering over 8,000 topics, the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible is an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The chain-reference system enables you to search the breadth of Scripture’s teachings on thousands of topics and allows you to follow those topics throughout the entire Bible. Beloved and acclaimed for more than five generations, this unique reference Bible is unparalleled in its ability to enrich personal devotions, topical study, and sermon preparation.
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The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible also offers a library of additional study resources, including biographical sketches, illustrated studies, maps, and charts. The alphabetical and numerical indexes make it easy to find any topic you wish to study, explore, or speak about. These tools together allow readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.
Pages
12292
Language
English
Publisher
Zondervan
Publication Date
June 7, 2022
THE JERUSALEM BIBLE
English | Alexander Jones (author)
When it comes to Bible translations, readability and reliability are what count; and on both counts, the original JERUSALEM BIBLE stands alone. A product of the age of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), THE JERUSALEM BIBLE (published in 1966) was the first truly modern Bible for Catholics. Using definitive original language texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical scholars of L'École Biblique in Jerusalem produced a meticulously accurate, wonderfully readable French translation of the complete canon of Scripture (La Bible de Jérusalem). From this French original came the English edition, edited by renowned Bible scholar Alexander Jones.
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For all the people around the world who are discovering or revisiting the mysteries contained in the Scriptures, only a clear, understandable Bible translation will do. With language as exquisite but more modern than the King James Version, THE JERUSALEM BIBLE is the one they can trust.
Pages
1696
Language
English
Publisher
Galilee Trade
Publication Date
August 3, 1971
Islam
THE HOLY QURAN
English | Abdullah Yusuf Ali (author; translator)
Translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an (also known as The Koran) is the sacred book of Islam. It is the word of God whose truth was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. As it was revealed, so it was committed to memory by his companions, though written copies were also made by literate believers during the lifetime of the Prophet.
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The first full compilation was by Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, and it was then recompiled in the original dialect by the third Caliph Uthman, after the best reciters had fallen in battle. Muslims believe that the truths of The Holy Qur'an are fully and authentically revealed only in the original classical Arabic. However, as the influence of Islam grows and spreads to the modern world, it is recognised that translation is an important element in introducing and explaining Islam to a wider audience.
This translation, by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, is considered to be the most faithful rendering available in English.
Pages
576
Language
English
Publisher
Wordsworth Editions
Publication Date
May 5, 2000
SAHIH AL-BUKHARI
English | Muhammad Mohee Uddin (compiler)
Sahih Al Bukhari (All Volumes in One Book) No Repetition in This Literary Hadith. Sahih Bukhari contains 7563 hadith reports, but of these some 2450 may be considered as distinct, While the others may be called their repetitions in one form or another. Repetitions of the same report very often occur in different books and chapters. The types of repetitions are:
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Hadith that have the same content and same chain of narration.
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Hadith that have the same content with different chain of narration.
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Hadith that have more than one content through the same chain of narration.
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This book contains 2398 hadith. All effort has been taken to amit repetitions, although some have been kept for a clear narrative. The Sahih Bukhari collection of Hadiths is considered to be the most authentic collection of the teachings and sayings of the Prophet (ï·º). These Prophetic traditions, or hadith, were collected by the Uzbek Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari, after being transmitted orally for generations.
Pages
660
Language
English
Publisher
Mohee Uddin
Publication Date
May 10, 2020
BIOGRAPHY OF THE NOBLE PROPHET
English | Safiur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri (author)
A complete authoritative book on the life of Prophet Muhammad (S) by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri. It was honored by the World Muslim League as first prize winner book. Whoever wants to know the whole life style of the Prophet in detail must read this book.
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Muhammad (S) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him, are severe against the disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (fore heads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurdt (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, and becomes thick and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (Paradise). (Al-Fath: 29)
Pages
588
Language
English
Dar-us-Salam Publications
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
THE ISLAMISTS: PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
English | Vanessa Chamma (author)
This is not just another book about Islam, but fills the gap left by several authors on pre-Islamic Arabia. Researcher Vanessa Chamma first outlines the social characteristics of the pre-Islamic era, from tribal society to the process of Arabization, in which Arab identity was constructed through language, not through its origins.
Only after this chapter, full of valuable information about the Arab tribes of the time, does the author enter the Islamic period, highlighting the foundations for the construction of Islamic society, or ummah, in which Muslims were key to its survival. The book “The Islamists” shows how they managed to face bitter moments, such as the Mongol invasion and the Crusades, retaking power through the Ottoman Empire.
Pages
441
Language
English
Independent Publishing
Publication Date
August 14, 2024
ISLAM: A SHORT HISTORY
English | Karen Armstrong (author)
No religion in the modern world is as feared and misunderstood as Islam. It haunts the popular Western imagination as an extreme faith that promotes authoritarian government, female oppression, civil war, and terrorism. Karen Armstrong's short history offers a vital corrective to this narrow view. The distillation of years of thinking and writing about Islam, it demonstrates that the world's fastest-growing faith is a much richer and more complex phenomenon than its modern fundamentalist strain might suggest.
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Islam: A Short History begins with the flight of Muhammad and his family from Medina in the seventh century and the subsequent founding of the first mosques. It recounts the origins of the split between Shii and Sunni Muslims, and the emergence of Sufi mysticism; the spread of Islam throughout North Africa, the Levant, and Asia; the shattering effect on the Muslim world of the Crusades; the flowering of imperial Islam in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries into the world's greatest and most sophisticated power; and the origins and impact of revolutionary Islam. It concludes with an assessment of Islam today and its challenges.
Pages
272
Language
English
Publisher
Modern Library
Publication Date
August 6, 2002
MUHAMMAD: PROPHET FOR OUR TIME
English | Karen Armstrong (author)
From the bestselling writer of ‘The History of God’ and the widely acclaimed ‘Islam – A Short History’ comes Karen Armstrong's ‘Muhammad’.
Muhammad was born in 570 C.E., and over the following sixty years built a thriving spiritual community, laying the foundations of a religion that changed the course of world history. There is more historical data on his life than on that of the founder of any other major faith, and yet his story is consistently misunderstood, and subject to much distortion and error. This story is more relevant now than ever, offering crucial insight into the true origins of an increasingly radicalized Islam.
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An acclaimed authority on religious and spiritual issues, Karen Armstrong offers a balanced portrait of this revered figure. Through comparison with other prophets and mystics, she illuminates Muhammad's spiritual ideas; she uses the facts of his life, from which Muslims have drawn instruction for centuries, to make the tenets of Islam clear and accessible for modern readers of all faiths.
Pages
203
Language
English
Publisher
Harper Perennial
Publication Date
October 15, 2009